I decided the other day that I needed to upgrade my TV, both the actual TV itself and my cable package. I’ve been promising myself a bigger TV for a couple of years now but have never got round to actually buying one, instead just looking at the offers that are available and thinking maybe I will get something cheaper in a couple of months. I think its just the thought of such a large outlay on something kind of frivolous. Of course it is only right that if I am getting a new TV I should make sure I have plenty to watch on it, so I’ve upgraded to the full works with my cable company. It’s a bit costly but I managed to get myself a good deal including my broadband, home and mobile phones so I think I will save in the long run. I think I now have over 200 channels which is ridiculous but at the same time very satisfying.
I then went about finding my new TV to watch all these channels on, which proved to be a bit trickier than I thought. Having every channel I could possibly want I didn’t really need a TV with built-in freeview, but thought I might as well have it in case I decide I want to move it into my bedroom or something where I don’t have a cable connection. I already knew I wanted an LCD, plasma has never appealed to me really, but LCD comes with it’s own problems really – I’ve noticed the quality of the picture can be lost on the larger TV’s so I spent possibly a bit too long comparing the quality of pictures in the TV shop, skipping from one to another, squinting and turning my head just to make sure that the picture was as good as I thought. So, that was that, I’d found the TV I wanted so just needed a shop assistant to sell it to me, I collared one and pointed out the TV I wanted. “I should point out sir, that this model isn’t high definition” was the response I got. Did I want high definition, do I need high definition – I have only noticed a few channels offering the option of high definition programmes. Apparently it’s the next big thing and it could well be wise to get a TV with high definition capability so I can enjoy future programmes that are broadcast in high definition. After a bit of thought and deliberation I came to the conclusion that I really didn’t need high definition. I am more than happy with my 42” LCD TV and the 200+ channels that I have to watch on it.
Having survived Ikea relatively unscathed I was feeling confident about assembling the unit, after all the display version looked like it comprised of only a few pieces.
Emptying the box gave me 4 bags of different screws, screw caps wooden plugs and an alun key along with a double sided sheet of instructions with various pictures showing different angles of the assembly with arrows and codes for the different screws etc. Of course, looking at the key for the codes I couldn’t really tell which screw was which as the differences were so small.
Reading through the instructions it became clear it would be easier to do things in a slightly different order than they suggested so I began screwing shelves into one of the side panels feeling confident that the unit would be up within half an hour. I will never doubt flat pack instructions again. It became horribly clear once I had finished screwing all the shelves in one side that I was wrong and the instructions were right, and to add insult to injury I had attached the shelves upside-down, something I didn’t really think was possible, so I had to undo all the shelves and start again.
Two hours and a sore back later the unit was assembled. It looks great, and has provided adequate storage for all the stuff that needed a home. However I can’t take any pleasure from looking at it yet, the wounds are still too raw, flat pack furniture has the ability to crush a man without even trying, men aren’t designed to follow instructions step by step, we are men, we know how to put furniture together thank you very much.
The dog toy proved a great hit though, and I was very thankful for the distraction while I wrestled with the damn storage unit - he loves to get involved in things and I think that would have been the final straw. Occasionally he would bound up with this lime green toy dangling from his jaws just to see what the swearing was about, then would skitter off joyfully shaking the life out of it as he went. The seams are starting to split, it won’t be long before I’m finding bits of lime green material and stuffing trailed round the flat, at least one of us is happy!
Feeling inspired by the recent sunshine I decided to have a spring clean of my flat. It’s amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in a short space of time without realising. I was finding stuff I don’t even remember buying - it makes me wonder if someone else who has had a spring clean decided to break in and leave all the stuff they didn’t want at the back of my cupboards.
Having spent a couple of days tidying cupboards only to turn round and find a pile of stuff on the floor that I no longer had room for, no matter how hard I tried to rearrange them to try and make them look smaller it just didn’t work and annoyingly it was all stuff I wanted to keep. I decided a new storage unit of some kind was required, which of course meant a trip to Ikea.
Having browsed their website I had a rough idea of what I wanted, so off I went, vowing not to buy anything I didn’t need - it seems every time I go to Ikea I come back with stuff that not only do I not need, but don’t have room for. Thankfully I found the unit I wanted and it was available in the self-service section so off I went, slip of paper in hand to find aisle 6 section D. It was in stock and I made it to the till with only 2 extra things, a new set of wine glasses (they were on offer, and I am having friends over for dinner soon so it seemed sensible) and some wierd stuffed toy thing for my dog, I have no idea what it is supposed to be, but it was cheap and cheerful and will keep him happy for a while, until he pulls all its stuffing out that is.